Epic Carnival: BIG WIN, SMU

by Mike, The Pig Pen

Just two days ago the SMU Mustangs suffered one of the more embarrassing losses in the history of college basketball. A 58-56 home loss to what initially looked to me like directions to North Carolina, but turned out to be the powerhouse known as South Carolina Upstate. Or to be simple, a mature community-college. How in the hell do you bounce back from losing at home to the Panthers from South Carolina Upstate? In all seriousness, you don't. It's that simple. SMU, if you're listening, no one will ever forget the loss to Upstate. You embarrassed the team, the university, the fans, but most importantly, you embarrassed yourselves.

Or so we thought.

Just when we thought SMU had reached rock-bottom, they rise up and beat Prairie View A&M, 57-49. The Mustangs took passion in proving to the world they can still compete with the best. This is the kind of game kids dream about. It's not everyday you get the opportunity to welcome in the 2-8 Panthers from Prairie View A&M.

From Dallasnews.com:

SMU evened its record and claimed its fifth win in six tries. SMU (5-5) also shook off Tuesday's shocking loss to South Carolina Upstate, which earned its first-ever win over a Division I program.

"We expected to win the last game, and we were down about that," guard Ryan Harp said. "We all were wondering what we were doing wrong.

"To win like this, it's going to help us out mentally."

You know I can't really agree with you, Ryan. It's not like you came out and dominated Prairie View A&M. To be honest, the fact that you needed a 16-0 second half run just to beat the 2-8 Panthers speaks numbers about the direction this program is headed. And I'd wonder what I was doing wrong also if I had losses to Southern University by 14 points, Alabama State by 10 points, Centenary by 17 points and to Dayton by 25 points. All in consecutive weeks. Hey, Doherty, what the hell are you doing down there?

The Mustangs do have one thing going for them... cool names.